How to Become a Ninety Percent Free Throw Shooter

Okay Associated Content hoops fans, players and coaches. The first thing I want you to keep in mind is the fact that, becoming an excellent free throw shooter, is not as hard as it may seem.

While some beginning players may struggle initially, with a little help - and a lot of practice - anyone can become a consistent free throw shooter.

Alright, let's get down to business.

My number one key to becoming a ninety percent free throw shooter is simple - repetition. First and foremost, shoot as many free throws as possible. Once you master a few simple rules, keep shooting until making nine of ten becomes second nature.

The first thing I want to advise all young free throw shooters or those that are looking to improve, is to perform the exact same routine or ritual each and every time you go to the free throw line.

Some players will dribble the ball three times, while some will take four or even five bounces. Former Knicks point guard Mark Jackson raised his left hand and aimed it at the rim before each free throw while Hall of Famer Adrian Dantley took a few dribbles and started caressing the ball before he shot it like some sort magic lamp or crystal ball.

My personal ritual is to take a deep breath, three low dribbles while bending, one more dribble standing up a kneed bend, followed by my shot. The point I want to emphasize is that shooters need to repeat the exact same routine or ritual each and every time you take a foul shot.

After taking whatever amount of dribbles you feel comfortable using, with the feet shoulder-width apart, inhale and exhale (take a calm breath) bend the knees, then rise up on your toes and release the shot, following through with the wrist to create a slight backspin on the ball.

Now, the problem many young shooters or more experienced players that may have free throw shooting problems - and one of the main problems I see in young players - is the fact that all of these players seem to struggle in releasing a straight shot.

Now, as a coach, I would rather see a player miss a straight shot either short or long rather than one that misses because the shot isn't straight and has almost no chance of going in whatsoever.

One of the best drills I ever learned for free throw shooting came from one of basketball's most respected college coaches ever, former Philadelphia legend and LaSalle University basketball coach, William 'Speedy' Morris, a recent Philadelphia Big 5 Hall of Fame inductee who will join Temple's John Chaney and Villanova's Rollie Massimino in the 2010 induction class when a ceremony in conjunction with the Big 5's 55th anniversary, takes place this season.

Morris would have us young players step to the free throw line and perform this drill. Step to the foul line with the basketball in your shooting hand only. Take the ball from holding it under-handed in one hand to a shooting position by raising the shooting arm and rotating the wrist and ball to the proper shooting position, which should be an 'L' shape with forearm and upper arm.

As usual, take a breath, bend the knees, rise up on the toes and release with one hand, following through with the wrist to create a straight shot with the proper backspin rotation.

While many of these one-handed free throws may initially feel like a 'shot-putting' motion, make sure to raise the shooting arm and follow through rather than 'pushing' the shot.

Players of any age will find the drill extremely helpful in their quest to improve their free throw shooting and I suspect that, somewhere in the 100-one-handed free-throw range the shooting motion will feel like second nature at some point.

Aim high when shooting free throws. Use a nice arc, not a flat shot and clear the front of the rim. If the shot is straight, it will almost undoubtedly go in the rim and fall through the net.

Think, 'soft' when shooting free throws. Remember readers, free throw shooting is not as difficult as some would make it out to be. What I mean by 'soft' is that, by shooting a higher arcing 'soft floater' that narrowly clears the front of the rim, shooters will have a much better chance of making that shot rather than a lower-arcing, 'hard' shot that is clanged off the backboard or rim. Think about a free throw as more of a 'soft toss' rather than a shot.

In closing, I want to stress repetition once again. Becoming an excellent free throw shooter is simple, but is also a feat that requires a massive amount of repetition.

Remember all of your keys rules, starting with your ritual. Remember to take a deep breath and don't make the shot attempt a 'life-or-death' thing no matter the situation.

Whether it's the first quarter or crunch time with the game on the line, keep it simple. Shoot it straight, aim high and let it fly.